
Rhonda Quinn , Ph.D.
Professor of Anthropology, Chairperson
Department of Sociology Anthropology Social Work and Criminal Justice
(973) 761-9211
Email
Rhonda Quinn, Ph.D.
Professor of Anthropology, Chairperson
Department of Sociology Anthropology Social Work and Criminal Justice
Rhonda Quinn approaches anthropological questions with (bio)geochemical methodologies, integrating stable isotopic and elemental data with environmental, biological, and cultural information of modern and fossil humans in order to understand human-environment interactions. At Seton Hall University, a primarily undergraduate institution, she directs an anthropological biogeochemical laboratory that functions as a teaching and research facility utilizing materials from forensic, archaeological, and paleoanthropological contexts.
Education
- Ph.D., Anthropology, Certificate in Quaternary Studies, Rutgers University, 2006
- M.A., Anthropology, University of Florida, 1999
- B.S., Geological Sciences, University of Florida, 1997
- B.A., Anthropology, University of Florida, 1996
Scholarship
- Quinn RL, Lepre CJ (2021) “Contracting eastern African C4 grasslands during the extinction of Paranthropus boisei.” Scientific Reports 11:7164.
- Quinn RL, Lewis J, Brugal J-P, Trifonov A, Lepre CJ, Harmand S (2021) “Influences of dietary niche expansion and Pliocene environmental changes on the origins of stone tool making.” Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 562: 110074.
- Quinn RL, Warnasch SC, Watson M, Godfrey L, Setera JB, VanTongeren J, Mortlock R, Wright JD (2020) "Biogeochemical evidence for residence, diet and health of the Woman in the Iron Coffin (Queens, New York City)." International Journal of Osteoarchaeology
- Quinn RL (2019) "Isotopic equifinality and rethinking the diet of Australopithecus anamensis." American Journal of Physical Anthropology 169: 403-421.
- Harmand S, Lewis JE, Feibel CS, Lepre CJ, Prat S, Lenoble A, Boës X, Quinn RL, Brenet M, Clément S, Daver G, Brugal J-P, Leakey L, Kent DV, Mortlock RA, Wright JD, Roche H (2015). "Before the Oldowan: 3.3 Ma Stone Tools from Lomekwi 3, West Turkana, Kenya." Nature 521: 310-315.
- Quinn RL, Lepre CJ, Feibel CS, Wright JD, Mortlock RA, Harmand S, Brugal J-P, Roche H (2013) "Pedogenic carbonate stable isotopic evidence for wooded habitat preference of early Pleistocene tool makers in the Turkana Basin." Journal of Human Evolution 65: 65-78.
- Lepre CJ, Roche H, Kent D, Harmond S, Quinn RL, Brugal JP, Texier PJ, Lenoble A, Feibel CS (2011) "An earlier origin for the Acheulian." Nature 477: 82-85.
- Quinn RL, Lepre CJ, Wright JD, Feibel CS (2007) "Paleogeographic variations of pedogenic carbonate δ13C values from Koobi Fora, Kenya: Implications for floral compositions of Plio-Pleistocene hominin environments." Journal of Human Evolution 53: 560-573.
- Hodell DA, Quinn RL, Brenner M, Kamenov G (2004) "Spatial variation of strontium isotopes (87Sr/86Sr) in the Maya region: a tool for tracking ancient human migration." Journal of Archaeological Science 31: 585-601.
Accomplishments
- National Science Foundation CAREER Grant (BCS-1455274), 2015-2020
- L.S.B. Leakey Foundation Research Grant, 2015-2016
- Seton Hall University Research Council Grant, Summer 2016, Summer 2012
- Geological Society of America Research Award, 2003
- Sigma Xi Grants-in-Aid of Research Award, 2002